Sheet-feeding apparatus.



E. J. CASEY.

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION mum PM. 19, 1912.

1,040,882, Patented Oct. 8, 1912.

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A TTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPN 60.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

E. J. CASEY.

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED 38.19, 1012.

1,040,882. Patented 0011.8,1912. V

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INVENTOR,

ATTORNEY.

E. J. CASEY.

SHEET FEEDING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rmm 21:11.19, 1912.

1,040,882. Patented 0011.8, 1912.

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ZZZ/W4? Jrqg ATTORNEY.

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EDWARD J'. CASEY, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHEET-FEEDING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct 8,1912.

Application filed February 19, 1912. Serial No. 678,637.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. CASEY, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sheet-Feeding Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In Letters Patent of the United States, issued to me Sept. 15, 1908, No. 898,831, for sheet feeding apparatus, especially applicable for the delivery of freshly printed sheets to a bronzing machine are illustrated and described means for feeding the sheets on tapes up to stop fingers or eveners designated in such patent by e e which temporarily arrest the sheet on the feed tapes and which are made as substantially radial projecting fingers on a rockshaft extended from side to side of the machine, and in conjunction with which is a means for impart-- ing, periodically, its rocking motion. The apparatus described'in said patent, furthermore, includes a pair of disks mounted to bear gravitatively on the upper portion of a roll 13 around which the forward portions of the feed tapes have'running engagements, the operation of the apparatus being such that the sheets would be fed up to the evener fingers e e and momentarily held thereat after which the evener fingers would have receding motions downwardly to be out of intercepting positions so that the sheets on the tapes could be carried to the nipping action of the disk cooperating with the forward tape roll to be fed thereby through and to be taken by the revoluble gripper in the bronzing machine. It should be further understood that the sheet should arrive at a position where the same is in contact with the eveners e 6, there to pause momentarily before being released by the eveners so that the sheet may be released at the proper moment to insure itsbeing received by the nip pers. If the operator is belated in placing the sheet upon the tapes, the sheet will arrive at the bronzing machine too late to engage the nippers, and the same will become clogged in the bronzing machine casing with disastrous effect to the mechanism.

The present invention relates to further improvements on the machine forming the subject matter of the aforementioned patent and more particularly pertains to the specific construction of means for releasing the sheet at a proper time to positively insure an engagement of the sheet by the nippers in the bronzing machine; to the specific construction of the stop fingers or eveners c e and the mode of mounting the same, and to further means for imparting elevating and lowering movements to the shaft which carries the disks which cooperate with the forward tape roll for feeding the sheets into the bronzing machine.

In the accompanying drawings in which the present improvements are illustrated, certain letters of reference are employed to designate parts substantially corresponding to those described and shown in my aforesaid first patent, while numerals of reference indicate components, the counterparts of which are not to be seen in the illustrations in my first patent.

In the drawings :--Figure 1 is a plan view of the forward portion only of my sheet feeding apparatus, the same comprising, prominently, the movably mounted disk carrying roll, the forward tape roll, the rockshaft carrying the stop fingers, and additional members of the mechanism to illustrate the safety portions of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical section crosswise of the machine as taken on the line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation as seen at the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross sectional view as taken on the line 4L- l, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is substantially an elevation as seen at the right hand end of the View beyond the plane indicated by line 55, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 6 is an elevation as seen at the left hand end of Fig. 1. view as taken on the line 7-7, Fig. 1, viewed in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view which depicts the manner of preventing the sheet a from entering the bronzing machine if the same has not arrived at the eveners e e at the proper time. Fig. 9 is a similar view to Fig. 8 showing the sheet a in proper engagement with the eveners c e and at a proper position to be released so that the same may engage the nippers in the bronzing machine at the proper moment. Fig. 10 is a perspective Fig. 7 is a vertical cross sectional view of those parts of the mechanism which prevent the sheet from entering the bronzer at the wrong time.

The shaft J on which the evener fingers e e are supported has rocking movements imparted thereto through the engagement with the crank 10 to which a suitably actuated connecting rod 12 is jointed. The upper.

side of the said shaft J is slabbed or flattened so as to form a substantial bearing for the slotted bars 13, 13, from the forward the heads of such screws have clamping binds on the tops of the bars.

By removing the screws the bars 13 may be adjusted bodily endwise and confined in any of the positions along the shaft J corresponding to the locations of the screw threaded sockets 14; and, moreover, by slightly loosening the screws 15 the bars carrying the evener fingers may be moved forwardly or backwardly or swung about the screws as the center of movements, or otherwise adjusted as manifest.

The shaft g on which the disks 3 are'adjustably secured have their extremities extending through cylindrically formed journal. blocks 18, 18, which are fitted in vertical ways 19 in opposite side standards or uprights 21 aflixed on the frame-work of the machine. These standards have opposite vertical apertures 20, 20, through which the portions of the shaft adjacent the journal blocks pass and which allow bodily vertical movements of the shaft therein. The said shaft g has at one end a spur gear 22 which is in mesh with a pinion 23 affixed on one end of the forward tape roll 13, such tape roll and the pinion thereon deriving rotary motion through means of the belt 24 run-' ning on pulley 25, and carries tapes Z). The said standards 21 are constructed with cap members 15 having cylindrically formed vertical sockets or chambers 26 for the reception of vertical spiral springs 27 which are in compression downwardlyagainst the blocks 18, such springs being borne upon at their upper ends by the screw plugs 30 which screw vertically down through the upper portions of the cap plates against and for varying the tension on the said springs.

On the rockshaft J which carries the stop fingers or eveners is a cam (duplicated) 35,

the edge of which for the greater portion of its contour is circular and concentric with the axis of the shaft J, the same, however, having a cam depression 36 as represented in Fig. 4:. With each cam cooperates alever '37 fulcrumed at 38 on the side framing, an intermediate portion of such lever having an engagement under the disk carrying shaft 1 and so each time .in the operation of the apparatus the rockshaft 7' is oscillated to lower the stop fingers e below the path of movement of the sheets to be fed on the tapes, the disks y y coacting with the forward tape roll B are momentarily let down into peripheral engagement with the forward tape roll or the rotary bushings 40 therein so that the sheets liberated by the evening stop fingers e e and by the tapes conveyed to the forward end of the tape roll will by the engaged disks and tape roll be given a positive feeding impulse forwardly to be received by the nippers of the bronzing machine. The lever 37 at its outer end has affixed thereto a lever 37 adjustably secured in the fork 37 by the thumb nut 37 and at the outermost end of the lever 87 a flattened portion 37 is provided which coacts with the shaft 68 having mounted thereon the disks 68 ea gaging a roll 68, in a manner similar to and concurrent with the aforedescribed action of the shaft 1 carrying the disks 3 It will be seen in referring to the aforementioned. patent, that to the connecting rod u is imparted an upward and downward motion by a suitable cam, the rod being connected to an adjustable lever w which in turn imparts an oscillatory movement to the shaft 50; and it will be further seen, on reference to Figs. 1 and 6, that a second iever w through the medium of the connecting rod 12 imparts to the shaft J,

through the medium of the adjustably mounted lever 10 an oscillating movement which operates the eveners 6 in exact synchronism with the bronzing drum in the bronzing machine, through the medium of the aforementioned cam t.

Adjustably mounted on the shaft 50 are levers 51 which have provided in their lower extremities a cylindrical hole through which is caused to pass the diametrically smaller end 52 of a cylindrically shaped member secured in place with relation to the lever nut 51 by the nut 54, giving the member 53 a swivel connection thereto. Through the axis of the member 53 at right angles to the center of rotation of the same is passed a depending rod 55 which is adjustably held against lateral displacement by the screw 56, the same being screw threaded into the member 53.

Upon the forwardly disposed surface of the lever 51 is formed the boss 57 to which is rigidly connected by screws 58 the upper end of a spring 59 which passes downwardly toward the rod 55, and near the forward extremity of this rod a loop 60 is formed in which is engaged the rod 55. It will be clearly seen from Fig. 10 that as the rod 55 is moved at right angles to the axis of the member 53 the same will have a sliding movement in the loop 60 of the spring 59.

The object of providing the above described mechanism is to prevent the rod 55 from bearing too harshly upon the sheet a which must pass beneath its pointed end 61 in its passage to the bronzing machine.

Between the side frames 62 is fitted a bar 63 having formed on the oppositely disposed ends the upturned arm 64 and having provided in their outwardly turned ends 65 the screws 66 upon which the bar 63 is adjustably suspended from the side frames 62.

Upon the bar 63 are loosely mounted the plates 67 which serve as a platform over which the sheet a may pass on its course to the bronzing machine. These plates 67 are provided in multiple so that they may be separated to accommodate the various adjustments of the eveners e or the bars 55, and so arranged to accommodate the combined size to the varying sizes of the sheets a. It will be clearly seen in Figs. 6 and 7 that by adjusting the screws 66 the ends of the plates 67 may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly to better accommodate the position of the same to the shafts B and 68 respectively.

Referring to Figs. 1, 8 and 0, it will be seen that the plates 67 have been provided with a notch depression 69 at such relative distance from the shaft 50 as to allow the rod 55 to engage the same when in its lowermost position.

Again referring to the established synchronism between the rod 55 and the eveners e 6, it will be seen that when the rod 55 is in its most downward position the eveners e e are also in a similar position, and vice versa.

Referring to Fig. 8, the sheet a is shown in full lines in a retarded position relative to the eveners e e; and it is assumed that the proper time has arrived for the eveners c e to release the sheet a. The rod 55 has been lowered simultaneously with the evener e, and engages the notch 69 in the plate 67 and the feed disk having assumed its driving position relative to the shaft B and the rolls 40, the sheet a is caused to assume a position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 8. This havin been accomplished, the sheet a is prevented from entering the bronzing machine, and the operator of the machine readily perceives the sheet a traveling upwardly on the rods 55, whereupon he may withdraw the sheet a manually in a direc tion opposite to the desired course of the sheet, allowing the same to rest again upon the tapes for a second trial with no damaging results to the sheet or the printing thereon.

Should the sheet a arrive at the eveners as shown in Fig. 9 with the rods 55 elevated, the eveners e 6 will be caused to fall, and the sheet (4 released at the )roper moment, whereupon the rod 55 will yieldingly be lowered upon the sheet a and the same will continue its course into the bronzing machine at the proper time to be received by the nippers.

Upon the shaft 50 is adjustably mounted the collar 70 which has formed on one side thereof a flattened portion 71 upon which is adjustably mounted a plate 72 secured in proper position to the flattened portion 71 by a screw 73. The plate 72 is angularly formed and on its lower extremity a thin crescent-shaped spring 7 4 is rigidly secured by the rivets 75. The spring 7a is so formed as to lightly contact upon the plates 67 and is intermittently raised and lowered simultaneously with the rods 55. The spring 74 is provided for the purpose of exerting a slight downward pressure upon the sheet a during its passage to the bronzer, the same being maintained until such time as the nippers receive the sheet, the object being to prevent the sheet from becoming dislodged by currents of air caused by the motion of the adjacent machinery or otherwise.

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform for the paper having a notch therein, a movable member having a finger arranged to be brought to' the plat-form in proximity to the notch to arrest and position the paper on the platform, an arm movable to be brought to the platform to enter the notch therein and serve to deflect the paper, and means for moving the finger and the arm in timed relation to alternately engage the paper on the platform.

2. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform for the paper having a notch therein, means for intermittently advancing the paper along the platform, a movable member having fingers arranged to be brought to arrest and position the paper on the platform, a detlcctmg arm movable to be brought to the platform to enter the notch therein and serve to deflect the paper, and means for moving the fingers and the arm in timed relation whereby the arm is brought to the platform at an interval after the withdrawal of the fingers to permit advance of the paper after being positioned by the fingers, and to enter the notch and deflect the paper if not positioned by the fingers.

3. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform for the paper, a movable member having fingers arranged to be brought to arrest and position the paper on the platform, a deflecting arm movable to and from the platform, and means for moving the fingers and the arm in timed relation to alternately engage the paper on the platform, said arm having a resilient support to rest lightly upon the paper when advanced to permit its movement along the platform.

l. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform for the paper having a notch therein, a movable member having fingers arranged to be brought to the platform in proximity to the notch to arrest and position the paper on the platform, an arm movable to be brought to the platform to enter the notch therein and serve to deflect the paper, and means for moving the fingers and the arm in timed relation to alternately engage the paper on the plat-form, said arm having a resilient support to rest lightly upon the paper when advanced to permit its movement along the platform.

5. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper, a movable member having evener fingers arranged to project into the platform and arrest and position the paper, a swinging arm on the other side of the plat-- form from the evener fingers arranged to be brought down upon the platform when the evener fingers are swung away to deflect the paper away from the platform member, said arm and evener fingers being spaced to permit the paper to be passed along platform between the said two positions of the evener and the arm, a tape roll, a shaft having disks arranged to coact with the roll, means for operating the disks and roll to bring the paper to rest against the evener fingers.

6. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper having openings therein, a movable member carrying evener fingers arranged to project through said openings to arrest a sheet and position it, a notch in the platform adjacent each said opening in the direction of advance of the paper, and a number of swinging arms arranged to be brought down onto the platform and enter said notches to deflect the sheet from the platform, said finger member and arms being simultaneously moved in opposite directions relative to the platform, and offset to permit free passage of the sheet at the intermediate part of the said movement.

7. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper having openings therein, a movable member carrying evener fingers arranged to project through. said openings to arrest a sheet and position it, a notch in the guide adjacent each said opening in the direction of advance of the paper, and a number of swinging arms arranged to be brought down onto the platform and enter said notches to deflect the sheet from the platform, said finger member and arms being simultaneously moved in opposite directions relative,

to the platform, and offset to permit free passage of the sheet at the intermediate v part of the said movement, means for advancing the paper along the platform member, means for stopping the advancing means and starting the same that are connected with the said evener and arms to shift the same to said positions.

8. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper, a movable member having evener fingers arranged to project into the platform and arrest the paper, a rockshaft on which said member is held carrying the fingers, a tape roll, a movable shaft carrying rolls cooperating with the tape roll, a pair of levers hinged at one end and connected with said shaft at their other ends whereby the latter shaft is elevated, a cam on the rock shaft engaging said levers to swing the shaft and rolls away from the tape roll at the same time that the said evener fingers are shifted to and from said platform.

9. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a guide member for the paper, a member having evener fingers arranged to project into the platform to arrest the paper, a rock shaft on which said member and fingers are held, a tape roll, a movable shaft carrying rolls cooperating with the tape roll, a pair of levers hinged at one end and connected with the latter shaft to shift the rolls to and from the tape roll, a cam on the rock shaft engaging said levers whereby to shift the shaft and rolls away from the tape roll at the same time that the evener fingers are shifted to and from the platform, a third shaft movable in its bearings and carrying arms movable to and from the guide adjacent the position of the fingers, means for rocking the third shaft simultaneously with the said rock shaft to bring the arms against the platform as the evener fin ers are moved away from the platform.

10. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper having openings therein, a movable member carrying evener fingers arranged to project through said openings to arrest a sheet and position it, a rock shaft on which sald member is held carrying the fingers, a tape roll, a movable shaft carrying rolls cooperating with the tape-roll, a pair of levers hinged at one end and connected with the latter shaft to shift the rolls to and from the tape roll, a cam on the rock shaft engaging said levers whereby to shift the shaft and rolls away from the tape roll at the same time that the evener fingers are shifted to and from the platform, a third shaft carrying rolls, a tape roll cooperating with the latter rolls, said third shaft being connected with said levers to move said latter shaft and rolls to and from its tape roll.

11. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper having openings therein, a movable member carrying evener fingers arranged to project into the platform to arrest the paper at one position of the movable member, a swinging arm on the other side of the platform from the evener fingers arranged to be brought down upon the platform beyond the opening after the evener fingers have been swung down out of said openings, to deflect the paper away from the platform member, said arm and fingers being spaced to permit the paper to pass along the platform between the two engaging positions alternately of the evener fingers and of the arm, said arm having a resilient support to rest lightly upon the paper when advanced and permit its being moved along the platform without interference.

12. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper, a movable member having evener fingers arranged to project into the platform and arrest and position the paper, a swinging arm on the other side of the platform from the evener fingers arranged to be brought down upon the platform when the evener fingers are swung away to deflect the paper away from the platform member, said arm and evener fingers being spaced to permit the paper to be passed along the platform between the said two positions of the evener and the arm, and a ylelding member connected with said arms and moved to engage the platform behind the arms, and raised from the platform with the arms.

13. In a machine of the class described, the combination of a platform member for the paper, a member having evener fingers arranged to project into the platform to arrest the paper, a rock shaft on which said member and fingers are held, a tape roll, a movable shaft carrying rolls cooperating with the tape roll, a pair of levers lunged at one end and connected with the latter shaft to shift the rolls to and from the tape roll, a cam on the rock shaft engaging said levers whereby to shift the shaft and rolls away from the tape roll at the same time that the evener fingers are shifted to and from the platform, a third shaft movable in its bearings and carrying arms movable to and from the platform, adjacent the position of the fingers, means for rocking the third shaft simultaneously with the said rock shaft to bring the arms against the platform as the evener fingers are moved away from the guide, and yielding members on the third shaft moved to engage the platform back of the arms and raised from the platform by the shaft.

Signed by me at Springfield, Mass, in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

EDWARD J. CASEY.

Witnesses:

G. R. DRISCOLL, WILLIAM H. REID.

(lopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

